Pruning-knife.



J. H. KELLER.

PRUNING KNIFE.

APPLICATION FILED JUN; 18. I9I3.

1,153,626. Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

, r. 79' Z I Amway COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. 4

main sitar PRUNING-KNIFE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Application filedJune 18, 191-3. serial-no. 774,393.

knives especially adapted to be used in heading maize or Kafir corn; andthe object of my invention is to provide a device of this generalcharacter of a simple and inexpen sive nature and of a compact anddurable construction, which shall be capable of con venient and accurateadjustment in position upon either the right or left hand to enable the.user to expeditiously remove the tops or extremities of the standingstalks.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter morefully described and finally pointed out in the appended claim, it beingfurther understood that changes in the specific structure shown anddescribed maybe made within the scope of the claim, Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the severalviews, Figure 1, shows a top view of a pruning knife embodying myinvention showing a hand in dotted outline. Fig. 2, shows a perspectiveview of the knife and'the reversible plate. Fig. 3, is a fragmentarysectional view disclosing the loca tion of the set screw and securingstud. Fig. 4c, shows a fragmentary view showing the stud within one ofthe access openings. Fig. 5, shows a fragmentary view disclosing one ofthe studs'as seated within one of the radially disposed apertures.

In the cultivation of maize and Kafir corn it is foimd expedient to cutout the crown or tops of the stalks and in my present invention Iprovide a knife especially adapted to be used in heading maize and Kafircorn.

In carrying out the aim of my invention I employ an oblonground-cornered plate 1, in outline conforming to the palm of a humanhaggl, having a screw opening 2 near one corner, squarely opposite thebase of the operators third finger as shown in Fig.

1. Radially disposed to the rear of the screw openlng 2, are a pluralityof apertures 7, which communicate with the adjacent access openings 8.As shown the aperatures are spaced radially relative to the screwopening 2. These apertures 7, form seats, while the access openings 8are of a size considerably larger than the apertures, as shown in thedrawings. At four suitable points the plate 1, which is reversible, isprovided with the strap openings or slots 3, l, 5 and 6, locatedrespectively opposite the little finger, the forefinger, and at oppositepoints within the wrist end of the plate as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and2. In connection with this palm plate 1, I employ a knife embracing aflat bar 9, from which extends the recurved hook-shaped knife 10, havingthe knife edge 11, as shown. Near the base of the hook 10, the bar isprovided with the threaded opening 17, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, whilenear the outer end, the bar is provided with the stud 13, having theenlarged head 14, as shown in Fig. 3. The stud 13 is of such a diameterthat the same will snugly fit into the apertures 7, while the head 14 isof a size to readily pass through the access openings 8.

In securing the knife to the plate the operator inserts the stud 13within one of the apertures 7, the head 14 preventing accidentaldisplacement of the stud. hen the stud is seated within an aperture, theopen ing 17 will register with the plate opening 2 so that a set screw18 can be passed through the opening 2, and screwed into the opening 17to removably secure the knife to the plate. As shown in Fig. 1 in itsworking position the knife hook 1O obliquely crosses below the third andlittle fingers of the hand to which the pruning knife is secured. Theoperator then again adjusts the knife to suit his convenience so thatthe same can be brought opposite the little, middle ,or third finger.

As some operators prefer to cut with the left hand, the plate is madereversible so that in this instance the plate would simply be reversedso that the hook would come on the side opposite to that shown in Fig.1.

In order to securely hold the carrying plate to the palm of theoperators hand I employ a strap 15 which is first carried through theopening 3 then through the opening 5, from which the strap loops andpasses through the opening 6, and finally passing through the opening 4,from which it is recurved to engage the buckle 16. In

this way the strap crosses the back of the hand and also passingtransversely across the palm of the hand, near the base of the fingers.

It is of course understood that these prun ing knives may be made invarious s1zes.

The device is further simple and inexpensive in construction and bothdurable and efiicient in operation and can be adjusted to either theright or left hand with ease, ac-

curacy and despatch.

sition of the operators third finger, of a within said threaded opening,said plate being provided with a plurality of apertures spaced radiallyrelative to said screw opening each communicating with an access openingthe head of said stud being adapt: ed to pass through one of said accessopen-J ings said stud being held within one of said a apertures, wherebysaid bar is adjustably se cured with its knife hook projecting beyond 7the edge of said plate, as and in the manner shown.

In testimony whereofl afliX mysigna ture, in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES H. KELLER. WVitnesses: i r

F. D. BURNS, H. E. WmMo'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

